Two Pair No Good Here?

[charlton49]

Ok, I've got one.

So, I'm playing this online tourney yesterday and several levels in, (I think it's 60/120) and I've got a little less than 30bb, holding 2To. This MASSIVE donkey McDonkerson Donkerino calls from button with about 60bb and sb completes with about 18BB

Flop is Q62 rainbow. It checks to MDMDD, who thinks for a while, then checks. Turn is a T, putting a flush draw out there. Checks to MDMDD again, he thinks a bit longer, then fires half the pot. I min raise and heehaw insta-pushes. You?

[Chipless Wonder]

I'd have to give him credit for top two pair, and fold my lower two pair if I were you.

Is he overbetting to scare you off? Or keep you from drawing?

And why did he check-raise so quickly? What is that saying?

His play seems so transparent - at least to me. But maybe he IS me...

[JTDiggity]

So, you didn't mention what the small blind did, I am assuming that maybe he called the 1/2 pot-sized bet prior to you min-rasie. If this is a 3-way handed, I probably fold here. I have a theory that 2 pair is the most over-played hand in poker. Yes, it looks good, but you aren't even sitting with top two here. You only have about 400 invested in this pot and still have 3,000 plus left (if my calculations are correct), so you can walk away easily here.

If the SB folded, then that changes things. Assuming this guy has been playing really loose, it would depend on what type of information you think he might have picked up from you. If he put you on being tight up to this point, I might call, but it is so difficult to call for you life in this scenario. The draw is also a concern, because if he is playing loose, he could very well be over-betting the flush draw. Yes, you would still be ahead, but he is still sitting at 3/1 to hit his flush.

I would probably lay down here unless I felt very strongly about what he was doing. You don't have much invested and you can play the safe route to pick a better spot.

I question the check and min raise on the turn here. You know this guy is loose, you see the flush draw out there, so why give him control of the hand in position? You know that 2 pair is most likely the best hand you will make here, so you need to bet him off of it, or at least make the attempt. I feel that you are allowing him to play his game to his advantage, with position. I hope this hand worked out for you, but I probably don't play it as slow.

Just my 2 cents.

[charlton49]

oops, sorry. Yes, sb folded. And I should clarify that MDMDD wasn't as loose as I may have made him out to be... just imagine that he's a player who can change gears and understands the game.... heck, we'll name him Cott Sook.

[JTDiggity]

lol, ok, so even against Scott Cook, I personally would lay down here. The fact that he understands the game is probably another reason for my fold. I still think you missed an opportunity here. I know that if he had you beat then you would be putting dead money into the pot, but checking out of position when you have essentially made your hand is just asking him to make a move for your chips. Again, just my perspective and how I would have played it. I might have lost more money, but I don't let him draw easily, if that's what he was doing.

[charlton49]

Good feedback, Jon.

I checked the flush draw thinking that the hand would be bet by Mr Sook, who, deceiving as it may be, is NOT Korean. If I successfully induced the bet, then I wanted to make it look like I was taking a small stab at the pot. When Mr Sook repopped all-in instantly, I decided that his hand was stronger than I initially (and blindly) guessed. If it were a player with whom I'd had very little playing experience, I very well may have called. But, I decided I was beat and that the 2.5 bets that I had lost was enough to walk away from without thinking I might have been ahead.

[Chipless Wonder]

You made an excellent fold there Charlton.

I was trying to achieve two things with my all-in instant re-raise.

1. Keep you from drawing.

2. Appear to be acting so strong that I was actually weak, possibly getting a call from you with something like top pair, top kicker.

Guess I should have overbet a little less...